Slow start plagues Bucks for second straight week, as they fall to Otto-Eldred in home opener
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express Bucktail's Patrick Tarantella looks for room to run around the edge, in Otto Eldred's 28-20 win in Farwell.
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express The Bucktail defense forced a early second quarter fumble with a gang sack of Terrors QB Ryan Shenfield, but the offense recovered the loose ball and eventually scored a touchdown on the posession.
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express Bucktail's Patrick Tarantella looks for room to run around the edge, in Otto Eldred's 28-20 win in Farwell.
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express The Bucktail defense forced a early second quarter fumble with a gang sack of Terrors QB Ryan Shenfield, but the offense recovered the loose ball and eventually scored a touchdown on the posession.
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For the second week in a row, Bucktail's slow start proved too much to overcome as early miscues allowed the Otto-Eldred Terrors to jump out to a 22-6 early lead on their way to a 28-20 win, knocking the Bucks to 0-2 to start the season.
Bucktail fans again will no doubt look at the second half on a positive note, as a rough stretch early was erased from the team's minds in another game that things could have gotten away from them, but instead, they improved as the game wore on.
"We don't quit, we don't quite and in the end it was another one possession game" said Bucktail coach Bruce Ransom following the loss.
"We have 5 sophomores and a freshman that start on offense, we got down early but again were in a position to make a statement" Ransom continued. "This one is over, we have two weeks to get ready for Moniteau" said the coach as the team has a week 3 bye before their next home game.
After the Terrors converted two fourth downs on their opening possession to go up 8-0, Corbin Pentz made it 8-6 with a one yard touchdown on a QB sneak with 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
On the final play of the opening stanza Otto-Eldred QB Ryan Sheffield threw a screen pass Leelynn Welch who shook off several tackles on his way to an 81 yard dash to the end zone.
Following a Bucktail interception, Shenfield scampered in from 9 yards out to put the visitors up 22-6 early in the second quarter.
Just like last week in Cameron County, the Bucktail gaffes had all the makings of a game that was about to get out of hand, when Bucktail slowly settled in and started to improve on both sides of the ball.
After giving up three touchdowns in the first 15 minutes of the game, the Bucks allowed the Terrors to score just one more in the final 33 minutes.
Offensively, Patrick Tarantella led the Bucks in rushing with 44 yards on 11 carriers, while Corbin Pentz added a pair of rushing touchdowns.
Although with them playing on the other side of state comparing schedules is not relevant, Bucktail's next game will be against Moniteau, who has also started out 0-2 being outscored 89-0 and will be at Lakeview this Friday before visiting Farwell on Sept. 18.
Otto-Edlred 28, Bucktail 20
Bucktail 6 6 0 8
Otto-Eldred 14 8 6 0
1st quarter
Ryan Shenfield (OE) 28 yard pass to Wyatt Blendinger (Run good), 7:26.
Pentz (B) 1 yard run. Run failed. 8-6.:40
Shenfield 81 yard pass to Leelynn Welch. Run failed. 14-6: 00
2nd quarter
Shenfield 9 yard run. Pass good. 22-6 8:16.
Steven Heiser 1 yard run. Pass failed. 22-12 :23.
3rd quarter
Shenfield 43 yard pass to Blendinger. Run failed. 28-12 1:08.
4th quarter
Pentz 1 yard run. Run good. 28-20 4:36.
Bucktail Stats: Passing: Corbin Pentz 4 of 12, 64 yards, INT. Receiving: Teagan Stone: 2 for 37 yards; Steven Heiser 1 for 4. Patrick Tarantella 1 for 18.
Rushing: Heiser 13 for 40, TD; Stone 2 for 3; Patrick Tarantella 11 for 44; Pentz 10 for 23, 2 TD's. Angelo Tarantella 2 for 19. Levi Stevenson 5 for 30.
Tackles: Jaden Intallura 8, Angelo Tarantella 6.